University of Southern California Office of International Services University of Southern California
USC Student Affairs

Exceptions to the Full-Time Enrollment

Reduced Course Load (RCL)
Academic Difficulty RCL
Medical RCL
Final Semester RCL
Thesis, Dissertation or Qualifying Exam Stage

Reduced Course Load (RCL)

International students who plan to be enrolled for part time studies must submit the Reduced Course Load form to OIS in a timely manner.  There are only a few exceptions to the full time enrollment requirement for the Fall and Spring semesters. Each exception has its own criteria, which are outlined below. 

The deadline for submitting the Reduced Course Load form is the last day to add/drop for that semester and must be approved by the student’s academic advisor prior to submission to OIS.

  • Master's Engineering students must receive approval from their MAPP advisor (OHE 106) 
  • Engineering Ph.D. students must receive approval from Margery Berti, Associate Dean (OHE 332)
  • All other students must receive approval from their academic department advisor

Registration is not required in summer semesters, unless it is the student’s first or last semester.

F-1/J-1 students should not drop below full time enrollment until they have received authorization from OIS.   Students who drop below full time enrollment without the proper authorization from OIS will be considered out of status.

Academic Difficulty RCL

Students may request an RCL due to academic difficulty only once per degree level.  Academic difficulty could be due to the following reasons:

  • Difficulty with English language or reading requirements
  • Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods or
  • Improper course placement

Students who receive an academic difficulty RCL must resume a full course of study in the next available semester in order to maintain status.

Medical RCL

OIS may authorize a medical RCL due to a temporary medical condition with an appropriate doctor’s letter recommending the RCL for medical reasons.  Students must receive prior approval from OIS for the medical RCL.  To submit a medical RCL, F-1 students must meet with an OIS Counselor and J-1 students must meet with the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program Coordinator at OIS.

Requirements of Medical RCL:

  • Letter from licensed physician, medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist that recommends student to take less than the minimum units required for full time enrollment
  • Receive prior approval from OIS and academic department before dropping classes
  • No more than 12 months (3 semesters) total of Medical RCL is permitted per degree level
  • Must take a minimum of:
    • 6 units for undergraduate students
    • 4 units for Master's students
    • 3 units for Ph.D. students
    If a doctor believes that a student is unable to meet this minimum unit enrollment, then the student should consider a Medical Leave of Absence.

Final Semester RCL

OIS may authorize a final semester RCL for students who are in their final semester of study and only have a few units remaining to meet academic program requirements.  Students may request an RCL due to final semester only once per degree program.

Thesis, Dissertation or Qualifying Exam Stage

Graduate students who register for thesis, dissertation or qualifying exams (GRSC 800) are considered to be enrolled full time although the number of units enrolled will be below the normal full-time course load. 

An RCL form is not required for students at these stages in their academic program.